Billfold



April 18, 1939. a STEMBER ET A| 2,154,826

BILLFOLD Filed June 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l L L -lNVE TORS BVM ATT'ORNEY April 18, 1939.

B. STEMBER ET AL 2,154,826

BILLFOLD Filed June 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 711171111 11111111111111111111 1111111 r I IIIII'IIIIIIIIII 'I'.IL f I/1111111 1 l Ill/1111111111.zul/11111111111111' Mmmm MVEZTORS Z. M

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BILLFOLD Application June 28, 1938, Serial No. 216,218`

2 Claims.

One object of this invention is to provide in a. billfold a novel and improved simple and accessible secret or normally invisible pocket in which, for example, bills of large denomination or important papers may be concealed from view during normal use of the billfold, but which can be quickly and conveniently opened for access to its contents.

A further object is to provide a secret pocket in a billfold which shall embody a novel and improved construction and combination of the usual opposed side walls of the bill pocket, an intermediate partition between said side walls to form a secret pocket between itself and one side wall, and a tlap integral with said side wall andy overlying the edge of the partition to close said secret pocket.

Other objects, advantages and results of our invention will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined billfold, key case and card case embodying the invention showing it unfolded for access to the bill carrying pocket.

Figure 2 is a similar view on a reduced scale showing the key case and card case opened.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on a. reduced scale taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 5125 of Figure 1, and

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are similar views on the respective lines 6 6, 1 1 and 8 8 of Figure 1.

The combined billfold, key case and card case includes a main body A foldable along the line 5 5 of Figure 1 into two sections and having a card case and key case B mounted on the inner side of one of the sections and pockets C and D on the inner side of the other section.

As shown, the main body A comprises an outer wall I of suitable material such as leather and an inner wall composed of two pieces 2 and 3 in partially overlapping relation to each other, the former having one end stitched to the outer wall at 4 and the other having one longitudinal edge stitched at 5 to the corresponding edge of the outer wall and its other edge stitched to the walls of the pockets C and D along one edge thereof at 5. The end of the piece 2 opposite the switches 4 is loosely connected to the piece 3 by a narrow tape I whereby the two pieces are free to slide relatively to each other and the piece 2 may (Cl. 15o-36) slide relatively to the outer wall I as the body is folded along the line 5 5 to prevent buckling at the fold.

The outer and inner walls of the body A form between them a pocket for receiving bills, checks or the like as shown in Figure 5, the mouth of the pocket being formed by the corresponding juxtaposed free edges of the inner and outer wall. In accordance with the invention, a normally concealed or secret pocket is provided, and as shown a partition 9 is disposed between the inner and outer walls and free thereof except at the ends of the edge of the partition juxtaposed to the mouth of the bill carrying pocket. The outer wall I has its edge portion turned inwardly of the pocket and is transversely slit adjacent its ends at III to form tabs II at the ends of the pocket and a ap I2 between the tabs. The edge of the partition 9 has extensions or ears I3 disposed between the tabs II and the main portion of the outer wall, and a line of stitches I4 passes through the tabs, the extensions I3 and the ap I2, whereby the partition 9 is secured to the outer wall at the ends of its upper edge and is otherwise free. The stitches I4 also normally influence the flap I2 inwardly to permit hinge action thereof, so that the ap will normally overlie the edge of the partition 9 as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 6, but may be swung upwardly to permit access to the compartment between the partition 9 and the outer wall I as shown in Figure 5. It will thus be observed that the partition 9 in conjunction with the outer wall I and the ap I2 forms a normally concealed or secret pocket in which for example bills of large denomination or important papers may be concealed from View during insertion or removal of the bills or papers from the compartment between the partition 9 and the inner wall 2. The flap is of a Width approximately corresponding to the usual inturned finishing edge portion of a billfold, and theedge of the partition extends close to the edge of the mouth of the pocket sothat the flap can be easily manipulated for access to the secret pocket and the simulation of the usual inturned edge afforded by the iiap disguises the pocket formation beneath the flap.

The piece 2 of the inner wall of the body A constitutes the back wall of the case B. This case has two end flaps II3 and II4 which are adapted to fold inwardly over the back wall into overlying relation to each other so as to close the case, the sections having complemental fastening elements such as the tongue I5 on one nap and a loop I6 on the other flap, for separably fastening the aps together in overlying relation, as shown in Figuresl and 4. The flap H4 'constitutes an integral extension of the outer wall I and has mounted on its inner side a key holder so that when the iiap is in overlying relation to the back wall, the key in the holder is concealed, while when the ap is swung outwardly from the back wall the key holder is exposed for use of a key. 'Ihe key holder is provided for two keys and includes a pocket section for each key composed of a piece of material I1 such as leather folded upon itself with one edge terminating short of the other as at I'In and the other edge 'f stitched to the flap as at i8 so that the pocket section is hingedly mounted on the flap. At the fold the pocket section is formed with a slot I9 through which the bit of a key 20 may be inserted, the head of the key being disposed in the pocket between the overlying portions of the strip, and the key being insertable into the pocket section through the opening provided between the edge Il.L and the opposite section of the folded strip. Cooperating with the pocket section is a keeper section consisting of a piece of leather or the like 2| stitched at three edges to the flap H4 with the edge juxtaposed to the end of the pocket section free so that the bit oi' the key may be inserted between the strip 2| and the flap as yshown in Figures 2 and 4. Normally the bits of the keys are inserted into the keeper sections 2l so that the keys lie flat against the flap |I4, and when it is desired to use a key, the bit is pulled from the corresponding keeper section and the pocket section is hingedly swung outwardly as shown in Figure 4 to permit use of the key.

Also disposed within the case B are card holders one of which lcomprises a pocket E formed between the inner wall 2 of the body A and a transparent strip 23 of suitable material such as Celluloid or Cellophane. 23 is secured in position by a leather framel 24 that is stitched to the outer wall i at one end as at 4 and along one longitudinal edge as at 25. 'Ihe opposite longitudinal edge of the frame is stitched to the piece 2 of the inner wall as at 28. 'I'he end of the pocket E opposite the stitches 4 is open for the insertion of a card, this open end being juxtaposed to the fold between the two sections of the body along the line 6-5 as indicated at F. The flap H3l is also preferably stitched to the frame 24 at the open end of the pocket E as at 21.

A pair of hinged card holding envelopes 2B are also mounted in the case B, each envelope having one open end 29 for the insertion of a card and the other end hingedly connected by a hinge strip 30 to the frame 24 as by the same stitches 21 which attach the ap I I3 to said frame. 'I'he en- The transparent sheet velopes may be formed of sheets of transparent material so that cards inserted into the open ends thereof may be visible in the envelopes.

'I'he pocket E and the envelopes 28 are coextensive with the corresponding section of the main body A, and the envelopes normally overlie but are hingedly movable to expose the face 2i of the pocket E. The hinged movementof the envelopes A.also permits them to be individually viewed. `Normally the envelopes lie at against the face 23 of the pocket and the flaps III and H4 are fastened togethereso as to conceal the envelopes and the pocket E.

While we have shown and described the invention as embodied in certain details of `structure, it should' be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the priny walls dividing said pocket into two compartments and having one edge disposed between said inturned portion and secured at its ends to and. between said inturned portion and the corresponding wall, the other parts of said inturned portion and said edge of said partition being free from each other, and said inturned portion forming a ap for closing and concealing the compartment between said wall and said partition.

2. An article of the character described comprising inner and outer walls secured together to form a pocket between them, one of which has an integral edge portion turned inwardly into the pocket and transversely slit adjacent its ends to form a tab at each end and a flap between said tabs connected to said wall in juxtaposition to the corresponding edge of the other wall to form a mouth for said pocket, a partition between said walls approximately parallel4 thereto r dividing said pocket into two compartments and secured at the ends of one edge to and between the respective said tab and said wall, said flap removably overlying the edge of said partition between said tabs to close and conceal the compartment between said wall and said partition.

BERNARD STEMBER. HERMAN WEINS'I'EIN. 

